Wearable Art 2015

February 15, 2015

There are a few major events that Juneauites anticipate with glee each year: Winter Solstice, December First Friday, Public Market, and Wearable Art. Out of all the community festivities, Wearable Art continues to be one of the shindigs I look forward to the most. The bright colors, heart-pumping tunes, and whimsical atmosphere is a much needed break from the greyness of winter. This year's Wearable Art Extravaganza was no exception. With the theme Juxtaposition: A Celebration of Contrasts, Juneau's Centennial Hall welcomed a packed house and morphed into a theatrical runway, fit for New York Fashion Week.

I hope you enjoy these snapshots from Sunday's inspiring show. (click the photos below to expand and see full frame detail)

Patron of Pork - BaconFest 2015

February 10, 2015

The evening began with bacon caramel ice cream (yes, really). Then there was the bacon pecan pie hot toddy. Followed by bacon popcorn, bacon ramen, chocolate dipped bacon, and pork liquor. Oh - and there was bacon nigiri, bacon jam, bacon churros, even bacon lollipops and bacon roses. It was a night of bacon, y'all - and it didn't disappoint.

About 400 Juneauites turned out for the 3rd Annual BaconFest Fundraiser, sponsored by the Juneau Glacier Valley Rotary Club. Fire on Mcginnis provided the tunes, and about 20 vendors lined Centennial Hall, vying for patrons' votes for the tastiest treat.

My personal faves? Coppa's candy cap mushroom ice cream with candied bacon topped with bacon fat praline - which snagged first place in the Sweet category. And then there was the decadent second place Savory category winner from McGivney's - the bacon brioche, potato foam, topped with shaved egg.

Who knew pork could be so versatile!

Amy George models a one-of-a-kind bacon outfit created by Lauralye Miko.

And then there was the Bacon Eating Contest... (there a really comical dude at the :39 mark)

And of course, what shindig is complete without a bacon costume?

Alaska Inaugural Gala

January 14, 2015

It was an evening of rainforest revelry, a night of wool and sequins, chiffon and XtraTufs. It was the long-awaited Alaska Inaugural Gala - and boy, was it a sight!

Downtown Juneau's Centennial Hall was a packed house on January 10, and it felt like half of Juneau turned out for the festivities. And Juneau has never looked so good. The town rolled out her red carpet for our new Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and their families - and the community danced the night away!

Check out my video below of the first few minutes of the Gala - complete with a rousing intro by the Yees Ku Oo' dancers of Juneau and some wonderful words from Governor Bill Walker. At the 7:45 minute mark, you'll see Lieutenant Governor Byron Mallott (of Tlingit heritage) join the group on the dance floor - a symbolic moment showing pride in his Native culture and solidarity with the Juneau community.

Hats off to our new leadership team!

The Decor and the Music

Selfies with the Governor and Lieutenant Governor

A Christmas Day Calf

January 12, 2015

I spent the holidays back in my homestate of Alabama, and it was terrific. There was so much Chick-Fil-A and Krispy Kreme consumed that I reckon I'll be detoxing from the South for a good month before my dietary habits get back to normal.

One of the high points of my trip was driving up to Tennessee with my dear sweet Momma on Christmas Day. Most of my roots are still in the Deep South, and whenever I'm that side of the Mason-Dixon line, I try to get some time in with family in Centertown, Tennessee. My last trip to see my Tennessee kinfolk was way back in 2012, so my visit back to the Farm was long overdue.

Most of the family's got a history in farming, and Uncle Pug - who's in his late 70s - is still up and at 'em. Imagine my surprise when he tells me Christmas morning that one of his Black Angus cows birthed a little one just a few hours earlier! Somehow I talked Uncle Pug into naming it Candice, because let's get real - who doesn't want to have livestock named after them? What an awesome, one-of-a-kind Christmas present!

Check out the video below of when Uncle Pug and I took the four-wheeler on the farm in search of "Candice." My fave part is at the 02:19 minute mark when Uncle Pug tells me about "Big Daddy." Enjoy!